On Sep 21, I received the following email:
I’m working alongside Electronic Arts on the release of Dragon Age: Origins across multiple platforms, including Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and PC. We thought you might be interested in receiving game related assets and a review copy.
...
It would be great if you could share your initial impressions of the game with your readers prior to the release date on 11/3. If you’d be interested in receiving a review copy, please send over your address and console preference.
On Nov 2, I received:
Also - I should hear back from EA later this week about whether I'm able to secure a review copy for your site. I'll keep you posted.
It looks like EA hired a firm called Rocket XL to do some publicity work for Dragon Age. This firm decided to approach a bunch of gaming bloggers and promise them review copies of the game, hoping to get some extra publicity via "new media" or whatever.
As you can see, it looks like they were unable to follow through on their promise. I wonder if they had any review copies to give out, or if they figured that by the time the game came out they would have gotten a bunch of free publicity without ever needing to actually send copies to people.
Poor form, Rocket XL. And bad judgement on your part, EA/Bioware.
And I guess a lesson for me as well. Never trust anything from PR people until they actually pony up.
Edit: For the record, I did end up receiving a copy of the game on Nov 12.
First page, amused?!?
ReplyDeleteThat sucks, free copy would have been nice.
Can't help feeling rather good about deciding not to accept the offer since I didn't think I was qualified enough to make a serious review. I acknowledged my limits - in opposition to those PR people. They're really a shame for the profession.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the club!
ReplyDeleteSame story here and now I'm undecided whether to buy the game.
Wow, classy. I'd expect nothing less from EA.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna run right out and buy this. Really. The money is burning a hole in my pocket.
ReplyDeleteNOT.
Same thing happened to me -- I just made a similar post. So far, I haven't heard of anyone receiving these offers actually getting sent a review copy. Lame. I think the flaw in their plan was that bloggers blog about everything. This crappy experience with their publicity firm will now be immortalized.
ReplyDelete(Also, a google search for "Dragon Age Review" does bring up this post on the first page. Nicely done! :) )
I'm a little confused, you say "I wonder if they had any review copies to give out, or if they figured that by the time the game came out they would have gotten a bunch of free publicity without ever needing to actually send copies to people" and then you go on to not only mention the game title, but the two companies involved. You are giving free promotion in spite of your misgivings.
ReplyDeleteWell... he might be giving promotion, but certainly not in a good sense.
ReplyDeleteYou just mentioned the game (in the blog title no less so it'll appear on a bunch of other's blogger's sites as well) and there's no such thing as bad publicity.
ReplyDeleteThis blogger is a proud member of the spam artists who make it close to impossible to find what you're looking for on the internet nowadays.
ReplyDeleteHe managed to trick a few unsuspecting people into visiting his lame-o blog, just to get a quick ego boost.
Gee, what an accomplishment! His mom must be so proud!
He managed to trick a few unsuspecting people into visiting his lame-o blog, just to get a quick ego boost.
ReplyDeleteTo the above Anonymous:
You are mistaken. This blogger has been here for quite a while. This blogger put up a post expressing his frustration at how Dragon Age is being marketed by incompetent liars.
You can find other bloggers expressing the same frustration with Dragon Age - for example Tobold's blog (linked from comment #3, above).
Different from my own experience. Even though I made it very clear that I am not qualified to review other games and that my blog is a rather 'niche' affair, I offered to review the game if a copy was supplied. I heard on the 2nd that it has been shipped. Part of me is still doubtful it will turn up, but a review is the least I can do for a free copy if it arrives.
ReplyDeleteAwww... You could have written a good review...
ReplyDelete